Issues: Labor

The New York State Senate passed legislation (S.6063A), to repeal the notification provisions of the Wage Theft Prevention Act, a massive, costly mandate on every employer in the state.

“We have to continue to be vigilant in examining mandates that are placed on our businesses, local governments and school districts. Providing relief from those mandates that serve no purpose is one of the ways we can grow our economy,” said Senator Jack M. Martins, who serves on the state mandate relief council.

Currently lacking basic labor protections, farmworkers would receive weekly day off, workers’ compensation, sanitary working conditions, and other important rights

(New York, NY) – Senator Adriano Espaillat and advocates for New York’s farmworkers called for the passage of the Farmworkers Bill of Rights, a critical piece of legislation which will help end brutal working conditions for farmworkers across the state.

ALBANY – Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I – Olean) announced that the state Senate has passed legislation she co-sponsored to repeal the Wage Theft Prevention Act of 2010, a burdensome, costly mandate on every employer in the state.

The Wage Theft Prevention Act of 2010 included a requirement that each year, a written notice on wages be provided by all private sector employers to all employees. Depending on the the method of payment to the employee (hourly, salary, etc.), employers must file a different form, and are required to use a form in the primary language of each employee. The act further requires that employees confirm receipt of this notice with a written acknowledgement that must be retained for six years.

The New York State Senate has passed legislation, Senate Bill No. S6360A, aimed at lowering the cost of doing business in New York State by repealing a burdensome mandate requiring employers to provide annual written notice of wages to all employees.

Outraged members of the Kensington community stood up with Senator Eric Adams and City Councilmember Brad Lander in support of workers at a local supermarket who have been the victims of wage-theft and unfair treatment. Current and former employees have reported working for excessively long work weeks for less than minimum wage and harassment by store managers at the Golden Farm Supermarket. Since December, neighborhood activists have collected more than 500 postcards from local Kensington residents in support of the workers and let their voices be heard at the rally in front of the Supermarket.

An article by the Queens Courier talks about the decision by the Queens based produce supplier, Fresh Direct, to stay in New York City. Although glad that Fresh Direct has decided to stay in the city and not move to New Jersey, Senator Gianaris is disappointed that they will most likely be relocating from Queens to the Bronx.

After flirting with a move to New Jersey, a Queens produce supplier has accepted a fresh offer – and will most likely relocate to the Bronx.

FreshDirect, an online fresh food grocer, will uproot from its operations in Long Island City and leave the borough for larger facilities, according to a joint statement from Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. on February 7.

The Queens Tribune editorial covers Mayor Bloomberg's celebration of Gossip Girl's 100th episode, where he proclaimed January 26, 2012 as "Gossip Girl" Day in honor of the success of the show and the positive impact of the film industry on the local economy.

Did you hear the one about the mayor?

In a star-studded press conference at Long Island City icon Silvercup Studios, Mayor Mike Bloomberg proclaimed Thursday, Jan. 26, as “Gossip Girl” Day in honor of the show’s 100th episode, while highlighting the success of the film and TV industry in the City and its impact on the local economy.

The Times Ledger editorial reports on Mayor Bloomberg's celebration of Gossip Girl's 100th episode. Senator Gianaris commends Mayor Bloomberg for promoting the film industry in New York City, which has created jobs and contributed $ billions to the local economy.

Before “Gossip Girl” fans tuned in to see if Blair Waldorf would marry Prince Louis Grimaldi of Monaco or return to her old flame, Chuck Bass, Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered an early wedding present to the cast.

The 41st Annual Legislative Conference of the NYS Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators will convene on Friday, February 17th and conclude on Sunday, February 19th, 2012. The theme of this year’s conference is “Open Doors to Employment, Opens Doors to Empowerment."

The Conference schedule of educational workshops and weekend-long events is included here in a pdf format that can be downloaded. More information on the Legislative Conference may be obtained by visiting www.nysabprl.org.

Senator Montgomery joined with representatives of the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park to support their request to the Legislature for the inclusion of $35 million in the final 2012-13 State Budget.

Governor Cuomo has proposed $25 million, a $10 million cut from last year's appropriation. The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) provides young people with important job opportunities and fosters work and life skill development, including responsibility, punctuality, money managment, teamwork and meeting workplace expections.

Approximately 130,000 New York City apply for jobs under SYEP and only 31,000 get jobs.

Sen. Martin Malavé Dilan, ranker on the Senate Transportation Committee, stands in support of TWU Local 100 who are seeking a fair contract for transit workers as part of ongoing negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of "NY Youth Works," a statewide program to combat the unacceptably high unemployment rates among inner city youth in communities across New York. The new program, passed last month in an extraordinary session of the state legislature, includes $25 million in tax credits for businesses that hire unemployed and disadvantaged youth and $62 million to support job training programs.

The Times Ledger wrote an article that talks about Fresh Direct's potential move to New Jersey and New York's attempt to keep them in the city. Senator Gianaris agrees that it would be disappointing if the online grocer were to leave New York.

A Long Island City online grocery company has filed for a large tax incentive program in New Jersey, but New York state and city agencies are hoping that Fresh Direct stays — if not in Queens, then at least in the city.

“It would certainly be disappointing if they left,” said state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria). “I think it’s important that the business climate in New York continues to be welcoming.”

The Queens Gazette wrote an article that talks about New York City's push to keep the online grocer Fresh Direct from making a move to New Jersey. Senator Gianaris believes that it is crucial to remain welcoming to local businesses, like Fresh Direct, in order to keep jobs in our neighborhood.

Fresh Direct, an online grocer that delivers to residences and offices in the New York City metropolitan area and one of the largest employers in Long Island City and Queens as a whole, has become a prize in a bidding war between New York City and New Jersey. The business, which bowed in New York City in 2002, is rapidly expanding and expects to outgrow its Long Island City facility in a few years.